ostensible
pronunciation
How to pronounce ostensible in British English:
UK [ɒˈstensəbl]
How to pronounce ostensible in American English:
US [ɑˈstensəbl]
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- Adjective:
- appearing as such but not necessarily so
- represented or appearing as such; pretended
Word Origin
- ostensible
- ostensible: [18] Ostensible means literally ‘that can be shown’. It comes via French from medieval Latin ostensibilis, a derivative of the Latin verb ostendere ‘show’ (itself a compound formed from the prefix ob- ‘in front of’ and tendere ‘stretch’, source of English extend, tend, tense etc). Its original meaning ‘showable’ survived into English (‘You should send me two letters – one confidential, another ostensible’, Jeremy Bentham, 1828), but seems to have died out by the mid-19th century.Two metaphorical strands came with it, though. One, ‘vainly conspicuous’, goes right back to ostendere, and is still preserved in English ostentation [15], although it has disappeared as far as ostensible is concerned. The other, ‘presented as real but not so’, is today the central meaning of the adjective.=> extend, ostentation, tend, tense
- ostensible (adj.)
- 1762, "capable of being shown, presentable," from French ostensible, from Latin ostens-, past participle stem of ostendere "to show, expose to view; to stretch out, spread before; exhibit, display," from ob "in front of" (see ob-) + tendere "to stretch" (see tenet). Meaning "apparent, professed" is from 1771.
Example
- 1. Given that , it would much prefer to keep america as its ostensible ally , not a declared enemy .
- 2. Very organized in the face of the ostensible forces against him .
- 3. In pursuit of safeguards designed principally to protect the city of london , the prime minister has vetoed a treaty whose ostensible purpose is to secure a rescue of the eurozone .
- 4. The ostensible excuse-that it is unable to do so-looks less tenable now it has some military successes against the taliban .
- 5. The aggressiveness of egypt 's ostensible peace partner , israel , has helped even less .